Pot and pan drawer system

ABSTRACT

A pot-and-pan drawer system has a drawer ( 1 ) with dividers ( 7 ) which divide sections of the drawers for separating sizes and shapes of pots, pans and lids for them in a residential kitchenware cabinet ( 9 ) with doors ( 10 ) or a commercial kitchenware cabinet without the doors. Walls ( 2, 3, 4, 5 ) of the drawers have divider grooves ( 8 ) for containing the dividers in select arrangements and positions. The drawers are slid in and out on preferably telescopic wall slideways ( 14 ) and telescopic bottom slideways ( 15 ) that allow full opening of the drawers. The walls, the dividers and the divider containers can be sized, shaped and structured for receiving select ranges of sizes and shapes of pots, pans and lids predeterminedly. The drawer system can include a plurality of the drawers structured separately for receiving selections and combinations of selections of the ranges of sizes and shapes of the pots, pans and lids predeterminedly.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to a drawer system for convenient access to pots and pans, lids for them in a residential or commercial kitchen.

[0002] There are numerous known shelf, cupboard and rack structures for storing pots and pans, lids for them and other utensils in proximity to residential and commercial kitchens. It has been a persistent problem from the beginning of civilization. Many solutions have been proffered. None are known, however, to have an organized drawer system in a manner taught by this invention.

[0003] Examples of most-closely related known but different devices are described in the following patent documents: U.S. Pat. No. Inventor Issue Date 4,150,629 Santi Apr. 24, 1979 4,254,881 Hard Mar. 10, 1981 5,000,326 Vaughn Mar. 19, 1991 5,207,334 Lear May. 04, 1993 Des411,783 Kualaau Jul. 06, 1999 5,660,284 Vaughn Aug. 26, 1997 6,012,593 Knittel, et al Jan. 11, 2000 1,994,195 Hay Mar. 12, 1935

[0004] Publications:

[0005] “Kraft Maid Cabinetry” by The Home Depot, dated 2001, pages 73 and 106

[0006] “Product Specification Guide” by Rev-A-Shelf®, pages 34-50

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] Objects of patentable novelty and utility taught by this invention are to provide a pot-and-pan drawer system which:

[0008] provides separated and easily accessible storage positioning of pots and pans, lids for them and optionally other utensils;

[0009] protects against scraping, banging and impacting of the pots and pans, lids for them and other utensils against each other when being placed in storage or removed for use;

[0010] is adaptable to containing a wide variety of types, sizes and shapes of the pots and pans, lids for them and other utensils;

[0011] can be made durable, easily cleanable, long-lasting, selectively aesthetic and inexpensive; and

[0012] is adaptable to a wide selection of cabinets and cabinetry for residential and for commercial kitchen uses.

[0013] This invention accomplishes these and other objectives with a pot-and-pan drawer system having dividers which divide sections of drawers for separating sizes and shapes of pots, pans and lids for them. Walls of the drawers have divider containers for containing the dividers in select arrangements and positions. The drawers are slid in and out on slideways that preferably allow full opening of the drawers. The walls, the dividers and the divider containers can be sized, shaped and structured for receiving select ranges of sizes and shapes of the pots, pans and lids predeterminedly. The drawer system can include a plurality of the drawers structured separately for receiving selections and combinations of selections of the ranges of sizes and shapes of the pots, pans and lids predeterminedly.

[0014] The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention should become even more readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description in conjunction with the drawings wherein there is shown and described illustrative embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0015] This invention is described by appended claims in relation to description of a preferred embodiment with reference to the following drawings which are explained briefly as follows:

[0016]FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway side view of a drawer that has tall dividers which are positioned upright laterally for separating large and long-handled pans in a front portion and that has short dividers which are positioned upright linearly for separating short and short-handled pots and pans in a rear portion of the drawer;

[0017]FIG. 2 is a top view of the FIG. 1 illustration;

[0018]FIG. 3 is a partially cutaway side view of a drawer that has decreasingly tall dividers which are positioned upright laterally for separating decreasingly large pan lids and lid-sized pans from-front-to-back of the drawer;

[0019]FIG. 4 is a top view of the FIG. 3 illustration;

[0020]FIG. 5 is a front view of the FIG. 1 illustration;

[0021]FIG. 6 is a partially cutaway front view of the FIG. 3 illustration;

[0022]FIG. 7 is a top view of pots, pans and lids in a drawer having dividers positioned linearly from-end-to-end in select divider-panel grooves in a front access wall and in a rear wall;

[0023]FIG. 8 is a partially cutaway side view of the FIG. 7 illustration without the pots, pans and lids;

[0024]FIG. 9 is a front view of a residential kitchenware cabinet for containing a plurality of a selection of pot-and-pan drawers behind closed cabinet doors;

[0025]FIG. 10 is a partially cutaway front view of the FIG. 8 illustration with the cabinet doors open to reveal the drawers;

[0026]FIG. 11 is a side view of a wire-drawer embodiment;

[0027]FIG. 12 is a top view of the FIG. 11 illustration,

[0028]FIG. 13 is a partially cutaway front view of the FIG. 9 illustration with the wire drawer;

[0029]FIG. 14 is an enlarged fragmentary front view of a slideway for the wire drawer;

[0030]FIG. 15 is an enlarged fragmentary front view of a wire hook for wire dividers for the wire drawer; and

[0031]FIG. 16 is a top view of the FIG. 10 illustration with drawers pulled out full length on telescopic wall slideways.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0032] Listed numerically below with reference to the drawings are terms used to describe features of this invention. These terms and numbers assigned to them designate the same features throughout this description. 1. Drawer 2. Front access wall 3. Rear wall 4. First-side wall 5. Second-side wall 6. Drawer bottom 7. Divider 8. Divider grooves 9. Residential kitchenware cabinet 10. Door 11. Drawer space 12. Indentations 13. Drawer handle 14. Telescopic wall slideways 15. Telescopic bottom slideways 16. Shelf 17. Caster 18. Wire drawer 19. Wire hooks 20. Arched slideways 21. Cylindrical rods 22. Wire hooks

[0033] Referring to FIGS. 1-6, the pot-and-pan drawer system includes at least one drawer 1 having four walls which include a front access wall 2, a rear wall 3 that is oppositely disposed from the front access wall 2, a first-side wall 4 and a second-side wall 5 that is oppositely disposed from the first-side wall 4. The four walls are extended upward vertically from a drawer bottom 6.

[0034] One or more dividers 7 are positioned selectively intermediate and parallel to at least one pair of two of the four walls which are oppositely disposed. The dividers 7 are sized and shaped to fit particular drawers 1 and to match features of particular kitchenware items.

[0035] The dividers 7 can be positioned in contact with select pairs of two of the four walls. Optionally, as shown in FIGS. 1-2, the dividers 7 can be positioned in contact with one of the four walls at one end and a separate divider 7 at an opposite end.

[0036] Preferably, the dividers 7 are positioned removably in divider grooves 8 in inside peripheries of at least one pair of two of the four walls which are oppositely disposed. The divider grooves 8 are articulated to receive edges of the dividers 7. The divider grooves 8 are oriented predeterminedly. For verticality of the dividers 7, the divider grooves 8 are oriented vertically.

[0037] Referring to FIGS. 7-10, the drawer 1 is articulated for being placed in linear-travel communication with drawer-support structure of a selected kitchenware cabinet. The kitchenware cabinet can include a residential kitchenware cabinet 9 with doors 10 for covering drawer space 11 and the drawer 1 in a closed mode as shown in FIG. 9. Optionally, the cabinet can include a commercial kitchenware cabinet with the front access walls 2 covering the drawer spaces 11 with the drawers 1 in a closed mode.

[0038] The rear wall 3 is disposed a drawer-length distance from the front access wall 2 and the second-side wall 5 is disposed a drawer-width distance from the first-side wall 4 for receiving select kitchenware items that include pots, pans and lids that are separated by the dividers 7 selectively. The dividers 7 have divider lengths with predetermined divider widths and shapes for extending intermediate bottoms of the divider grooves 8 which are oppositely disposed. The divider grooves 8 are positioned incremental distances apart to position the dividers 7 one or more of the incremental distances apart for receiving select kitchenware items that include pots, pans and lids selectively between the dividers 7 which are positioned in the divider grooves 8 as depicted in FIG. 7.

[0039] The drawer system can include a plurality of the drawers 1, each of which have predetermined depth distances intermediate the front-access wall 2 and the rear wall 3, predetermined width distances intermediate the first-side wall 4 and the second-side wall 5, predetermined incremental distances intermediate the divider grooves 8 for receiving the dividers 7, predetermined length, width and shape of the dividers 7, and predetermined positioning, orientation and incremental separation of the dividers 7 for the select drawers 1 and for combinations of the select drawers 1.

[0040] The dividers 7 can include predetermined indentations 12, as shown in FIGS. 4, 6 and 7 for receiving lid handles and other portions of the kitchenware predeterminedly.

[0041] As shown in FIGS. 10 and 13, the front access wall 2 can include a drawer handle 13.

[0042] The divider grooves 8 can be oppositely disposed in inside peripheries of the first-side wall 4 with the dividers 7 positioned laterally intermediate the first-side wall 4 and the second-side wall 5 as shown in FIGS. 1-4 and 16, Optionally, the divider grooves 8 can be oppositely disposed in inside peripheries of the front access wall 2 and the rear wall 3 as shown in FIGS. 7-8 with the dividers 7 positioned linearly.

[0043] Referring to FIGS. 10, 13 and 16, the drawer 1 is preferably articulated for being placed in linear-travel communication with drawer-support structure of a selected kitchenware cabinet with telescopic wall slideways 14 or telescopic bottom slideways 15. Full-length opening of the drawer 1 is made possible with either as shown with the telescopic wall slideways 14 in FIG. 16.

[0044] As depicted in FIG. 10, one or more shelves 16 can be positioned in a rear portion of the drawer space 11 above a short drawer 1 or above a short rear portion of the drawer 1. This provides a combination of the drawers 1 and the shelves 16 for containing kitchenware items. This combination can be used with either the residential kitchenware cabinet 9 or the commercial kitchenware cabinet.

[0045] The residential kitchenware cabinet 9 and the commercial kitchenware cabinet 11 also can include predetermined wheels which can be casters 17 on which either are kitchen-area mobile.

[0046] The residential kitchenware cabinet 9 is characterized by seclusion of the drawer space 11 and drawers 1 in a closed mode for tidiness. The commercial kitchenware cabinet is characterized by space-saving utility without requirement of kitchen space for opening the doors 10 for either residential or commercial use. Both are intended also for use on land, air and water vehicles for which they are particularly suited and advantageous.

[0047] Referring to FIGS. 11-15, the drawer 1 described in relation to FIGS. 1-10 and 16, includes a wire drawer 18 with the front access wall 2, the rear wall 3, the first-side wall 4, the second-side wall 5 and the drawer bottom 6 being made of rubber-coated wire. The dividers 7 are wire-frame members which can include wire hooks 19 with which tops of the dividers 7 hook on top edges of the first-side wall 4 and the second-side wall 5.

[0048] The wire drawer 18 is preferably articulated for being placed in linear-travel communication with drawer-support structure of a selected kitchenware cabinet with arched slideways 20 that slide on cylindrical rods 21. The dividers 7 include wire hooks 22 with which tops of the dividers 7 are hooked on top of edges of the first-side wall 4 as shown and on the second-side wall 5.

[0049] A new and useful pot-and-pan drawer system having been described, all such foreseeable modifications, adaptations, substitutions of equivalents, mathematical possibilities of combinations of parts, pluralities of parts, applications and forms thereof as described by the following claims and not precluded by prior art are included in this invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A pot-and-pan drawer system comprising: at least one drawer having four walls which include a front access wall, a rear wall that is oppositely disposed from the front access wall, a first-side wall and a second-side wall that is oppositely disposed from the first-side wall; the four walls being extended upward vertically from a drawer bottom; one or more dividers positioned selectively intermediate and parallel to at least one pair of two of the four walls which are oppositely disposed; the drawer being articulated for being placed in linear-travel communication with drawer-support structure of a selected kitchenware cabinet; the rear wall being disposed a drawer-length distance from the front access wall and the second-side wall being disposed a drawer-width distance from the first-side wall for receiving select kitchenware items that include pots, pans and lids that are separated by the dividers selectively; the dividers having divider lengths with predetermined divider widths and shapes for extending intermediate oppositely disposed walls of the drawer; and the dividers being positioned selected incremental distances apart for receiving select kitchenware items that include pots, pans and lids selectively between the dividers.
 2. The pot-and-pan drawer system of claim 1 wherein: the drawer system includes a plurality of the drawers.
 3. The pot-and-pan drawer system of claim 2 wherein: the plurality of the drawers include select drawers having predetermined depth distances intermediate the front-access wall and the rear wall, predetermined width distances intermediate the first-side wall and the second-side wall, predetermined incremental distances intermediate the dividers, predetermined length, width and shape of the dividers, and predetermined positioning, orientation and incremental separation of the dividers for the select drawers and for combinations of the select drawers.
 4. The pot-and-pan drawer system of claim 1 wherein: the dividers include predetermined indentations for receiving portions of the kitchenware predeterminedly.
 5. The pot-and-pan drawer system of claim 1 wherein: the indentations include lid bays for receiving portions of lid handles.
 6. The pot-and-pan drawer system of claim 1 and further comprising: divider grooves in inside peripheries of at least one pair of two of the four walls which are oppositely disposed; the divider grooves being articulated to receive edges of the dividers; and the divider grooves being oriented predeterminedly.
 7. The pot-and-pan drawer system of claim 6 wherein: the divider grooves are in inside peripheries of the first-side wall and the second-side wall.
 8. The pot-and-pan drawer system of claim 1 wherein: the dividers are positioned laterally intermediate the first-side wall and the second-side wall.
 9. The pot-and-pan drawer system of claim 6 wherein: the divider grooves are in inside peripheries of the front access wall and the rear wall.
 10. The pot-and-pan drawer system of claim 1 wherein: the dividers are positioned linearly intermediate the front access wall and the rear wall.
 11. The pot-and-pan drawer system of claim 1 wherein: the drawer includes predeterminedly high dividers in a front portion and predeterminedly low dividers in rear portion of the drawer.
 12. The pot-and-pan drawer system of claim 1 wherein: the drawer is articulated for being placed in linear-travel communication with drawer-support structure of a selected kitchenware cabinet with telescopic wall slideways with which the first-side wall and the second-side wall are attached to drawer-space walls of the selected kitchen cabinet.
 13. The pot-and-pan drawer system of claim 1 wherein: the drawer is articulated for being placed in linear-travel communication with drawer-support structure of a selected kitchenware cabinet with telescopic bottom slideways with which the drawer bottom is attached to a drawer-space bottom of the selected kitchen cabinet.
 14. The pot-and-pan drawer system of claim 1 wherein: the cabinet includes a residential kitchenware cabinet.
 15. The pot-and-pan drawer system of claim 14 wherein: the residential kitchenware cabinet includes cabinet doors which are articulated and hinged to the kitchenware cabinet to cover one or more drawer spaces and one or more of the drawers in a closed mode in the residential kitchenware cabinet.
 16. The pot-and-pan drawer system of claim 14 wherein: the residential kitchenware cabinet includes predetermined wheels on which it is mobile.
 17. The pot-and-pan drawer system of claim 1 wherein: the cabinet includes a commercial kitchenware cabinet.
 18. The pot-and-pan drawer system of claim 17 wherein: the commercial kitchenware cabinet includes front access walls of the drawers which are articulated to cover the one or more drawer spaces with the one or more of the drawers in a closed mode in the commercial kitchenware cabinet.
 19. The pot-and-pan drawer system of claim 1 wherein: the drawer includes a wire drawer with the front access wall, the rear wall, the first-side wall, the second-side wall and the drawer bottom being made of rubber-coated wire; the dividers are wire-frame members; and the dividers include wire hooks with which tops of the dividers are hooked on top edges of the first-side wall and the second-side wall. 